Pakistan’s Parliament has passed a landmark constitutional amendment expanding the powers of Army Chief General Asim Munir and curbing the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court — a move that has sparked widespread concern over the future of democracy in the country.
According to a Reuters report, the National Assembly approved the amendment on Wednesday with a two-thirds majority, as only four lawmakers voted against it. The Senate had cleared the bill two days earlier, following an opposition boycott that allowed for an unusually swift approval process. The bill will become law once signed by the President — a step viewed as largely procedural.
Army Chief To Become Chief of Defence Forces
Under the new amendment, General Asim Munir will assume the newly created position of Chief of Defence Forces, granting him command over Pakistan’s army, navy, and air force. Upon completing his term, Munir will retain his rank and receive lifetime legal immunity.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the legislation as a “historic step” towards institutional harmony and national unity.
“If we’ve made this part of the Constitution today, it’s not just about the field marshal,” Sharif said. “Nations honour their heroes, and we know how to show respect to ours.”
Opposition, Experts Warn of Judicial Crisis
However, opposition parties and legal experts have condemned the amendment as a severe blow to judicial independence and a consolidation of military power.
The reform strips the Supreme Court of its authority over constitutional matters, transferring such cases to a new Federal Constitutional Court, whose judges will be appointed by the government.
Lawmakers from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) walked out of the session, tearing up copies of the bill in protest. PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said,
“None of the parliamentarians cared about democracy and the judiciary being eliminated. Rest in peace, Constitution of Pakistan.”
Legal Community Raises Alarms
Constitutional lawyer Asad Rahim Khan called the move “uncharted territory” for Pakistan’s legal system, warning that it represents an unprecedented breach in judicial independence.
Another legal expert, Mirza Moiz Baig, described the amendment as a “death knell” for judicial autonomy, saying it grants the executive unchecked authority over the judiciary.
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“With this amendment, parliament has done what previous dictators could only dream of,” Baig remarked.
Military’s Influence Further Institutionalised
The Pakistan military has long wielded significant influence over the country’s politics. However, this amendment gives the armed forces formal constitutional authority, effectively cementing their role at the core of Pakistan’s power structure.
